Two-dimensional deep learning inversion of magnetotelluric sounding data

Conventional linear iterative methods for magnetotelluric sounding (MT) suffer from considerable limitations related to difficulties in selecting the initial model and local optima. On the other hand, conventional intelligent nonlinear methods exhibit slow convergence and low accuracy. In this study, we propose an inversion strategy based on the deep learning (DL) deep belief network (DBN) to realise the instantaneous inversion of MT data. A scaled momentum learning rate is introduced to improve the convergence performance of the restricted Boltzmann machine during the DBN pre-training stage, and a novel activation function (DSoft) is introduced to enhance the global optimisation capability during the DBN fine-tuning stage. To address the difficulty in designing the sample data when prior information is lacking, we employ the k-means++ algorithm to cluster the MT field data and use the clustering results as the prior information to guide the construction of the sample dataset. Then, based on the proposed DBN, we ensure end-to-end mapping directly from the apparent resistivity to the resistivity model. We implement two groups of experiments to demonstrate the validity of both improvements on the DBN. We consider six types of geoelectric model from the test set to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed DBN method for MT 2D inversion, which we further compare with the well-known least-square regularisation method for several extended geoelectric models and field data. The qualitative and quantitative analyses show that the DL inversion method is promising as it can accurately delineate the subsurface structures and perform rapid inversion.

EXPERIENCE OF COMPLEX MICROSEISMIC AND MAGNETOTELLURIC SOUNDING ON THE NORTHERN PART OF THE CENTRAL SIKHOTE-ALIN FAULT

We present the results of a study of the crustal structure of the northern part of the Central Sikhote-Alin Fault (CSAF) by methods of microseismic sounding (MSS) and magnetotelluric sounding (MTS). A geoelectric section based on MTS data and a section of relative velocities of P-waves according to MSS data were constructed and interpreted at a depth of up to 9 km and a length of 42 km. The main blocks, their boundaries, fault zones and some anomaly zones identified by microseismic and magnetotelluric sounding practically coincide. The CSAF zone is expressed by a narrow subvertical zone between high resistivity blocks. The data obtained indicate that the fault zone in the study area is impermeable. A similar structure was identified 6 km northwest of the CSAF zone, which can be traced to twice the depth (up to 20 km). It is concluded that the combination of microseismic and magnetotelluric sounding methods is promising for studying the structure of the Earth's crust in fault zones.

ANALYSIS OF GEOPHYSICAL PARAMETERS VARIATIONS AND SEISMIC EVENTS AT THE POINT OF DEEP MAGNETOTELLURIC SOUNDING

The paper considers the results of processing and analysis of data from deep magnetotelluric soundings (DMT) performed in 2018. Comparison of variations in apparent resistivity, the endogenous component of the magnetotelluric field, lunar-solar tidal deformations and seismic events that were recorded during the research. The objective of the study is to detect the relationship between the appearance of variations in electromagnetic parameters of the data of magnetotelluric monitoring from the occurred earthquakes, their distance, energy class and position, relative to the DMT point.

APPLICATION OF CALCULATION REGION DECOMPOSITION IN SOLVING MAGNETOTELLURIC SOUNDING PROBLEMS

Using numerical experiments, possibilities of application the decomposition method of the calculation region in solving direct problems of the magnetotelluric sounding are considered.

ANALYSIS OF GEOPHYSICAL PARAMETERS VARIATIONS AND SEISMIC EVENTS AT THE POINT OF DEEP MAGNETOTELLURIC SOUNDING

The paper considers the results of processing and analysis of data from deep magnetotelluric soundings (DMT) performed in 2018. Comparison of variations in apparent resistivity, the endogenous component of the magnetotelluric field, lunar-solar tidal deformations and seismic events that were recorded during the research. The objective of the study is to detect the relationship between the appearance of variations in electromagnetic parameters of the data of magnetotelluric monitoring from the occurred earthquakes, its’ distance, energy class and position, relative to the DMT point.

Deep structure of the Salair fold-nappe terrane (NW CAOB) according to magnetotelluric sounding

The Salair fold-nappe terrane (a.k.a. Salair orogen, Salair) is the northwestern part of the Altai-Sayan folded area of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. It is composed of Cambrian – Early Ordovician volcanic rocks and island-arc sedimentary deposits. In plan, Salair is a horseshoe-shaped structure with the northeast-facing convex side, which is formed by the outcrops of the Early Paleozoic folded basement. Its inner part is the Khmelev basin composed of Upper Devonian – Lower Carboniferous sandstones and siltstones. The Early Paleozoic volcanic rocks and sediments of Salair are overthrusted onto the Devonian-Permian sediments of the Kuznetsk basin. The Paleozoic thrusts, that were reactivated at the neotectonic stage, are observed in the modern relief as tectonic steps. Our study of the Salair deep structure was based on the data from two profiles of magnetotelluric sounding. These 175-km and 125-km long profiles go across the strike of the Salair structure and the western part of the Kuznetsk basin. Profile 1 detects a subhorizontal zone of increased conductivity (100–500 Ohm·m) at the depths of 8–15 km. At the eastern part of Profile 1, this zone gently continues upward, towards a shallow conducting zone that corresponds to the sediments of the Kuznetsk basin. Two high-resistance bodies (1000–7000 Ohm⋅m) are detected at the depths of 0–6 km in the middle of the section. They are separated by a subvertical conducting zone corresponding to the Kinterep thrust. The main features are the subhorizontal positions and the flattened forms of crustal conductivity anomalies. At the central part of Profile 2, there is a high-resistance block (above 150000 Ohm⋅m) over the entire depth range of the section, from the surface to the depths of about 20 km. In the eastern part of Profile 2, a shallow zone of increased conductivity corresponds to the sediments of the Kuznetsk basin. The subhorizontal mid-crust layer of increased conductivity, which is detected in the Salair crust, is typical of intracontinental orogens. The distribution pattern of electrical conductivity anomalies confirms the Salair thrust onto the Kuznetsk basin. The northern part of the Khmelev basin is characterized by high resistivity, which can be explained by abundant covered Late Permian granite massifs in that part of the Khmelev basin. The Kinterep thrust located in the northeastern part of the Khmelev basin is manifested in the deep geoelectric crust structure as a conducting zone, which can be considered as an evidence of the activity of this fault.

Studying the Depth Structure of the Kyrgyz Tien Shan by Using the Seismic Tomography and Magnetotelluric Sounding Methods

This paper presents new results of detailed seismic tomography (ST) on the deep structure beneath the Middle Tien Shan to a depth of 60 km. For a better understanding of the detected heterogeneities, the obtained velocity models were compared with the results of magnetotelluric sounding (MTS) along the Kekemeren and Naryn profiles, running parallel to the 74 and 76 meridians, respectively. We found that in the study region the velocity characteristics and geoelectric properties correlate with each other. The high-velocity high-resistivity anomalies correspond to the parts of the Tarim and Kazakhstan-Junggar plates submerged under the Tien Shan. We revealed that the structure of the Middle Tien Shan crust is conditioned by the presence of the Central Tien Shan microcontinent. It manifests itself as two anomalies lying one below the other: the lower low-velocity low-resistivity anomaly, and the upper high-velocity high-resistivity anomaly. The fault zones, limiting the Central Tien Shan microcontinent, appear as low-velocity low-resistivity anomalies. The obtained features indicate the fluid saturation of the fault zones. According to the revealed features of the Central Tien Shan geological structure, it is assumed that the lower-crustal low-velocity layer can play a significant role in the delamination of the mantle part of the submerged plates.